Valve operating mechanism



Dec. 1, 1931. H. L. COLBY 1,834,048

VALVE OPERATI NG MECHANI SM Filed Jan. '13. @928 V6 A\\\ I fiyj U U Inventor- Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATIENT oFFicE HAROLD L. COLBY, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T'O CHARLES W. MGCONNEL, OF BOSTON, ELDON MACLEOD, OF WESTWOOD, AND FRANK MORRISON, F

DOING BUSINESS AS MASON REGULATOR I NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, TRUSTEES, COMPANY, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM This invention relates to valve operating mechanism and especially although not exclusively to mechanism of this character employed in connection with automatic regulating systems for steam boiler furnaces.

Regulators are employed in various well known systems in which the regulating of the combustion is accomplished by means of a valve operated by a device responsive to boiler pressure, and which in turn controls the flow of a fluid, such as oil or steam to a liquid fuel burner, steam to a blowing. engine, air to a grate, or the like. In regulating systems of this kind it is desirable that the mechanism for operating the valve be so designed as to enable the valve to be completely closed under proper conditions, and that the mechanism function to open the valve sufficiently to suit varying requirements. The present invention provides a valve operating mechanism capable of utilizing the entire range of move ment of the regulator while at the same time causing the opening and closing movements of the valve to be at all times proportional in amount to the movements of the regulator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism controlled by the regulator, and of improved construction whereby the limit of movement of the valve in one direction, such as in opening the valve, may be varied without varying the limit of movement of the valve in the opposite direction, while at the same time the movements of the valve between the variable limits will at all times be proportional to the movements of the regulator between its fixed limits.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation of the valve and its operating mechanism, the valve casing being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the connection between one of the operating levers and the valve stem. I

Before explaining in detail the present invention and the method or mode of operation embodied therein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims here-to ap pended or the requirements of the prior art.

The present invention is an improvement over the invention shown and described in my Patent No. 1,569,852, dated January19, 1926. The conduit for the fluid tobe controlled includes a casing for a valve 11 adapted to control the flow of fluid through said conduit. In the present instance this valve is shown as of the balanced gradual opening type, such as shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,285,7 69, issued November 26, 1918 on an application filed by George S. Melcher. Mounted on the valve casing 10 is a bracket 9 comprising upstanding lugs 13 and 21. Pivoted at 14 to the upperend of the longer lug 13 of the bracket is a swinging lever or operating arm 15. To the outer end of the lever 15 is suspended, by means of a link 16. a weight 17. The valve 11 is provided with a valve stem '12 to the uper end of which is connected an upright 18 adjustable by means of an adjusting nut 19. The member .18 is bifurcated, and a stud 51 extends transversely through the upper forked ends. A swinging hanger link 50 is suspended from the stud 51 and is offset below the pivot to provide a space between the link and one of the forked ends of member 18 to receive the lever 15, which in turn is pivoted to the lower end of the hanger link 50 by means of a stud IVhen the lever 15 swings in either direction it willbe seen that movement of its pivot 20 is permitted due to the swinging hanger link 50, so that a straight vertical force will be imparted to the valve stem 12 by the operating mechanism.

Pivoted at 22 to the upper end of the lug a set screw 28. This shoe 27 carries suitable means for supporting the lever 15, such as a roller 29. A stud 30 may be providedon the lever 23 to limit the adjustment of the shoe 27 in one direction, this corresponding in the present case to the limit of upward opening movement of the valve 11.

It will be understood that the operating lever 23 will be moved upwardly under the control of the regulator, and will be moved downwardly toward the dotted line position by means of the lever 15 which is operated by the weight 17. It will be seen that the roller 29 provides a point of engagement between the swinging levers 15 and 23 whereby these levers are intercontrolled and one operated from the other. The-range of. swinging movement of the operating lever 23, as determined by the fiXed limits of movement of the regulator, is shown bythe full and dotted lines in the drawings. iWhen the lever 23 is moved downwardly between the full and dotted line positions, a proportionate movement is imparted to the lever 15 and hence to the valve 11, to which will be imparted a closing movement. lVhen the lever 23- reaches the dotted line position the valve 11 will be fully closed.

lVith the roller 29 adjusted in the position shown in full lines in the drawings the movement of the lever 23 to its full line position will have fully opened the valve. By. adjusting the shoe 27 and hence the roller 29 along the lever 23 the .limit of opening movement of the valve will thereby be varied, without however affecting the limit of closing movement, since whenthe lever 23 is moved to the dotted line position the lever 15, irrespective of the adj ustment of the roller 29, will move into a position substantially 1parallel with the lever 23 as shown in dotted mes.

It follows therefore that irrespective of the limits of opening and closing movement of the valve a complete range of swinging movement of the operating member 23 between full and doted line positions is required in order to .cause the movement of the valve from one limit to the other. While the adjustment of the roller 29 varies the extent of movement imparted to the valve by a given swinging movement of the member 23, these movementsfor a .given adjustment of the roller 29 bear a fixed ratio to one another throughout their respective ranges. Thus it will be seen that the limit of opening movement of the valve may be decreased or varied without decreasing or varying the limit of closing movement, so that at all times the amount in which the valve is opened may be varied in proportion to the movement of the regulator, while at the same time the'regulator may operate within its limit to ellect a complete closing of the valve;

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a valve, means for imparting opening and closing movements to the valve comprising a pair of swinging levers, means on one lever engaging the other, means on one lever for maintaining it in engagement with the other, and means for pivoting said levers to swing in the same direction from intersecting position to substantially parallel position.

2. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a valve, means for imparting opening and closing movements to the valve comprising a pair of swinging arms having a point of engagement intermediate their ends for operating one from the other, means for connecting one of said arms to the valve, and pivots for said arms permitting the arms toswing from intersecting position to substantially parallel position.

3. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a Valve, means for imparting opening and closing movements to the valve comprising a pair of swinging arms having an adjustable point of engagement intermediate their ends for operating one from the other, means for connecting one of said arms to the valve, and pivots for said arms permitting the arms to swing from intersecting position to substantially parallel position.

4. In a valve operating mechanism, the combination of a valve, a swinging lever for operating the valve in one direction, a second swinging lever for operating the valve in the opposite direction, an operative connection between said levers whereby one is efl ective to operate the other, means for adjusting said connection to limit the range of swinging movement of one ofthe levers, and means for swinging said levers in opposite directions to operate said valve in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HAROLD L. COLBY.

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